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OceanGate Expeditions was reportedly sued in 2018 by a former employee worried the company’s Titan submersible, which disappeared Sunday while taking five tourists to see the sunken remains of the Titanic, might not be safe in such deep water.
The Titanic has sat 12,500 feet below sea level on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean since 1912.
According to the New Republic, submersible pilot and then-director of marine operations David Lochridge alleged OceanGate fired him after he expressed concerns the sub might not hold up well on deep descents. A press release tied to the claim said the plaintiff was “responsible for the safety of all crew and clients” while working for the exploration company.
Lochridge was reportedly canned, then sued by OceanGate for disclosing private information about Titan.
His counterclaim offered an explanation for why he felt he was cut loose. It included the allegation that he refused to give his consent to manned tests of early subversive models. His suit claims “several individuals had expressed concerns over to the Engineering Director.”
Paying passengers submerged in Titan would not be made aware of potential risks cited by Lochridge, his claim alleged. One of his concerns centered around “non-destructive testing performed on the hull of the Titan.”
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He also claimed “hazardous flammable materials” were being used in the submersible at one point.
The New Republic said Lochridge and OceanGate reached a settlement months after their respective cases were filed. The terms of that agreement, as well as what actions OceanGate might have taken to address Lochridge’s safety concerns, are unclear.
The company said Titan completed more than 50 test dives in deep water before launching from an icebreaker over the weekend. It completed 10 dives in 2022 after making its inaugural plunge in 2021.
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Search and rescue efforts continued Tuesday afternoon amid concern the 22-foot-long vessel’s oxygen supply would be depleted by Thursday morning.
The U.S. Navy sent equipment capable of retrieving heavy objects from deep waters, which were expected to arrive Tuesday evening. The U.S. Coast Guard said the air and water search for Titan has covered 10,000 square miles.
Retired U.S. Navy submarine captain David Marquet told NPR there’s a chance of “about 1 percent” Titan’s passengers survive.
With News Wire Services
Brian Niemietz
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